As the first Latino secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio is expected to devote considerable attention to what has long been disparagingly referred to as Washington’s backyard.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state means that Latin America could play a prominent role in U.S. foreign policy over the next four years. Rubio, who is Cuban American, is known for hawkish positions on countries including China, Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela.

While the announcement has not been made, it is expected President Donald Trump will name Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state. If selected, Rubio could be the first Hispanic to hold the high-ranking post, which dates to the country's founding.